Machine for crocheting sheathings about cores



May 16, 1944. P. F. NARDULLI MACHINE FOR CRCHETING SHEATHINGS ABOUTCORES med March 2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 16, 1944. P. F. `NARDLJLLIMACHINE FOR CROCHETING SHEATHINGS ABOUT CORES Filed March, 1942 2sheets-sheet v2 Patented May 16, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEMACHINE. FOR CROCHETING SHEATHINGS ABOUT CORES Application March 2,1942, Serial N0. 433,101

:zo Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and means for crocheting a sheathabout a ring such as, for instance, a shade pull ring, a curtain ring, atassel ring or the like. The particular embodiment of the presentinvention is exemplied in a machine for making a well known type ofring, to-wit, the ring which is the product of the machine of the PatentNo. 1,965,298 issued to myself and Michael J. Nardulli, July 3, 1934.

In the crocheting of a sheathing about a ring the formation of eachstitch involves a cycle of operations, many steps of which cycle are notcontinuous. Parts must be brought into motion, reach their maximumvelocity and then brought back to rest one or more times during eachcomplete cycle of operations. In a high speed machine the time formaking a complete sheathing about a ring, from the rst stitch to thecompletion of the last stitch, may be appreciably less than ten seconds.There may be more than thirty complete stitches per ring which willallow less than one-third of a second for the completion of each stitch.The completion of a stitch may require from two to four successiveoperating steps, which would allow appreciably less than one-siXth of asecond for the completion of one of the operating steps. Certain partsof the machine must be started from a position of rest, moved in acertain manner and then brought back to rest, all within a timeappreciably less than one-sixth of a second. It is thus apparent that inorder to obtain high speed operation the moving parts that have suchmotion imparted thereto must be made exceedingly light in Weight andshould not be vastly out of dynamic balance. I have found that it isdiicult, if not impossible, to obtain such high speeds of operationwhere the part which must go through such a cycle of operations during afraction of each stitch consists of the ring and its associated holder.The very mass of the holder inhibits any such sharp acceleration anddeceleration as would be required to attain that speed of motion. I havediscovered that the desired movement can be obtained by turning thecrocheting hook rather than by turning the ring holder. Since thecrocheting hook is light in weight it can very quickly be moved from oneposition to another and back again.

In accordance with the principles of one embodiment of the presentinvention the ring to be sheathed is placed in a stationary holder andthe chocheting hook is reciprocated to and from the holder, thecrocheting hook passing through the ring during one forward stroke inthe stitch (Cl. (i6-1) forming operation and being shifted to passoutside of the ring during the next forward stroke. The cord to becrocheted is continuously rotated in synchronism with the movement ofthe crocheting hook so that the cord is in a position to be picked up bythe hook when the hook commences its rearward stroke from either one ofits alternate positions.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present inventionwill be apparent from the following speciiication taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Figures l, 2, 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views illustrating foursuccessive steps in the process of crocheting a stitch about a ring tobe sheathed;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a machine for crocheting a sheathing about aring in accordance with the process of Figures l to 4; and

Figure 6 is a side view of the machine of Figure 5.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the various guresof drawings.

Reference may now be had more particularly to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.A ring to be sheathed is indicated at I. This ring is supported in theinclined position illustrated, in a manner to be more fully described asthis specification proceeds, it being suiicient for the present purposesto state that the holder for the ring is stationary and holds the ringat the inclination shown but permits free turning of the ring about thecentral axis 2 of the holder. A Well known standard latch typecrocheting hook or crocheting needle is indicated at 4. This crochetinghook comprises a wire shank 5 having a hook 6 at its forward end and alatch l pivoted thereto and freely swingable towards and away from thehook 6. This type of crocheting hook or needle is well known in the artand forms no part of the present invention except in the combinationwith the machine. A cord feeding tube or looper ID is mounted forrotation about its center longitudinal axis Il and has a short tubularsection I2 at the end thereof and at an angle thereto, said section I2constituting a cord feeding member. The cord to be crocheted, indicatedat I5, extends from a reel, through a usual cord tensioning device,thence through the tube I0 and cord feeding member l2, through which itis pulled during the crocheting operations in a manner to `be presentlyset forth. The tube li) isrof appreciably greater diameter than the cordto prevent any possibility of binding of the cord in the tube. Thesection I2 is of smaller diameter, especially at the open end whichconstitutes the outlet thereof, but yet of suiciently large diameter toprevent binding the cord in said section.

To commence the crocheting operations the cord I is looped around thehook E, as illustrated in Figure l, and the far end il of the cord isheld manually. lThe crocheting hook is then rotated through an angle ofapproximately 180 about the axis II parallel to but spaced from thelongitudinal axis of the shank 5. This brings the needle into theposition illustrated in Figure 2 with the cord I5 looped around the hookof the crocheting hook. At this time the bottom of the shank 5 isslightly above the bottom opening in the ring I. The latch 'i may remainopen or it may move by gravity to the closed position during the turningof the hook. The

position of the latch at this time is, however, of

no importance. If the latch is not open when the mechanism is in theposition illustrated in Figure 2 it will be positively open during thenext step in the operation of the mechanism. The cord feeding tube I0rotates about its axis i! from the position illustrated in Figure itowards the position illustrated in Figure 3 and the crocheting hook Gcommences to move forward. In its forward movement the hook 5 passesthrough the -ring I, and the loop i3 on the crocheting hook slides alongthe shank 5, thus forcing the latch 'I to its full open position if itis not already in that position and the openl latch slides forwardthrough the loop I8,` leaving the loop The mechanism then reaches theposition illustrated in Figure 3 and the loop I8 encircles the shank 5of the crocheting hook. The tube l2 of the looper I, in its rotationabout the axis II loops the cord over the crochet hook or moves the cordinto a position in the path of the return movement of the crochet hook.As the crochet hook commences its rearward stroke the hook Ii picks upthe cord I5 and draws it through the ring I. The latch 'I is now in itsopen position, as illustrated in Figure 3, and it therefore passes abovethe loop I8. As the crochet hook continues its rearward motion the loopI3 on the shank 5 of the crochet hook forces the latch I to its closedposition thus enclosing the loop that is in the hook vEi, and then thecrochet hook is pulled through the loop i8, thus casting off the loopIS. The mechanism is now in the position illustrated in Figure 4, whichis the position upon the completion of the rst stitch. The crochet hooknow rotates back to the position illustrated in Figure 1 and has a looparound the hook 6. The crocheting hook E then again moves forward, thistime beneath the bottom of the ring I. As it moves forward the loop 2i)in the hook rides on the shank 5, opens the latch 1 in much the samemanner as did the loop i3 in moving from the position illustrated inFigure 2 to that illustrated in Figure 3. At that time the cord feedingmember comes into the position of Figure l placing the cord from themember i2 in the path of the reverse movement of the crocheting hook 5.The crocheting hook then picks up another stitch from the cord I5 and isretracted to the position illustrated in Figure l. It is to bey notedthat in this retracted position, which is the position of Figure l, thecrocheting hook is not pulled back as far as it is in Figure 4, lIn theposition of Figure l the crocheting hook is not drawn far enough to castoif the previously formed loop onthe shank 5. When the crocheting hookrotates to the position illustrated in Figure 2, on all stitches afterthe first stitch, there is an additional loop around the shank 5 of thecrocheting hook, so that upon the neXt forward movement of thecrocheting hook, which is the movement through the ring I, there will betwo loops on the shank 5 of the crocheting hook. This will be true inevery subsequent forward movement of the crocheting hook through thering i. Thus in the rst stitch the stroke from Figure 3 to Figure 4 isthrough only one loop I3 whereas on every subsequent stitch around thering the corresponding stroke is through two loops.

An explanation will now be given of the construction of the machine forperforming the stitching operations thus far described. The machineincludes a base 4i! having a pair of standards 4I--li2 secured theretoand supporting bearings for a main operating shaft d3. This shaft ispower rotated, always in the same direction, in any desired manner, asfor instance, by an electric motor or by a clutch and pulley from acommon driving shaft that drives a number of such machines. The maindrive shaft 43 carries a cam i4 keyed thereto and having a cam groove i5for imparting the desired motion to a roller type cam follower d5. Thecam follower S6 is secured to the underside of a slide shaft 41 that ismounted for longitudinal reciproeation on the standards llI-tZ. To keepthe slide sha-ft from turning during its reciprocating motion a guideroller i8 is secured thereto in any desired manner, as by a screw fig.The guide roller 48 rides between two guide rods 5ft-59 that are securedto the tops of the standards '1I-i2 as by bolts `I-5I. As the mainoperating shaft 43 rotates it rotates the cam 44 so that the cam groove45 imparts a longitudinal motion to the slide shaft il while at the sametime the slide shaft is defi'- nitely held against rotation. Thelongitudinal position of the shaft l is thus determined by the camgroove 45.

A crochet hook carriage 55 is mounted in the forward end of the shaft also as to be freely rotatable with respect to the shaft 4l about thelongitudinal axis of the vcrochet hook carriage. The crochet hookcarriage 55 is slidable through a pinion 5S on the carriage. The pinion58 is held against longitudinal motion by a pair of side plates 59-59held between a pair of Vstationary bars It-68. The pinion 55 is splinedto the crochet hook carriage 55 so that rotation of the pinion willproduoecorresponding rotation of the carriage but the carriage may slidelongitudinally through the pinion without moving'the pinion and withoutinterference bythe pinion.

The gear teeth of the pinion 58 are in mesh with teeth on a rack 63 onthe upper surface of a longitudinally slidable bar 64. Upon sliding ofthe bar Gil in one direction or the other the pinion 58 is rotated torotate the crochet hook carriage. At the same time the carriage may bemoved longitudinal'iy by the shaft 61 actuated by the cam 4,

The forward end of the crochet hook carriage 55v is slotted, asindicated at 65, to receive the crochet hook G. For this purpose theshank 5 of the crochet' hook has a bend therein, as indicated at E3,which fits snugly in a hole 59 in the carriage. The bend in the wire isheld by a set screw against dropping from the carriage during rotationof the carriage'. Thus the crochet hook maybe reciprocated and rotatedby the4 corresponding rciprocation and rotation of the carriage 55.

An explanation will now be given ofthe manner of actuating the rack bar64 to rotate the crochet hook carriage. For this purpose the mainoperating shaft 43 extends lengthwise of the machine and carries asprocket Wheel at its outer end which engages a sprocket chain 12 thatdrives a sprocket wheel keyed to a shaft 13, thereby driving the shaft13. 'I'his shaft 13 is located above the shaft 43, as may be seen fromFigure 7, and to the rear thereof, as may be seen from Figure 6. Theshaft 13 is journalled in bearings carried by suitable standards securedto the base 40 of the machine. The shaft 13 carries a cam 16 having acam groove 11 therein in which rides a cam follower 18 in the form of aroller secured to a fitting 19 at the end of the rack bar 64. Thus asthe main operating shaft 43 rotates it imparts rectilinear motion to thecrochet hook carriage by way of the cam 44 and it imparts rotary motionto the carriage by way of the cam 16 and rack 64, the rotary andrectilinear motions being thus definitely synchronized, as determined bythe contours of the two cams.

The main drive shaft 43 has a driving gear 85 keyed thereto which drivesan idler gear 85 that in turn drives a gear 81 through which the cordfeeding tube l0 extends and to which the tube is secured. The tube U isrotated about the center of the gear 81, about the longitudinal axis ofthe tube as a center, said tube being journalled in suitable supportingbearings in vertically eX- tending side rails 93 secured to the base 40.The gear ratio between the shaft 43 and the tube l0 is such that thetube makes two complete revolutions for each revolution of the shaft 43.

A post 99 is secured to the base 40 and extends upwardly therefrom andat its upper end supports the means for receiving and holding the ringto be sheathed. The ring holding means includes an inclined base 9|bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the post 90. A short cylindricaltube 92 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the base 9| andextends at right angles thereto. The tube 92 is of an outside diameterslightly less than the intended inside diameter of a sheathed ring, andis of a height slightly in excess of the intended thickness of asheathed ring. A cover plate 93 is pivoted on the base 9| and is adaptedto be swung clockwise about its hinge 94 from the closed positionillustrated in Figure 6 to an open position. A pair of torsion springs95 on opposite sides of the pivot continuously urge the cover plate 93upwardly to its open position, that is, in al direction clockwise fromthat seen in Figure 6. A manually operated pivoted latch 96 is providedfor holding the cover in the closed position illustrated in Figure 6.The base 9| and the ring 92 and the cover 93 each have a slot formedtherein, as illustrated at 98, through which the crochet hook moves.

The cam 44 is so constructed that for every complete ovolution of thatcam the shaft 41 makes two complete forward strokes and two completerearward strokes. As the cam rotates 90 from the position illustratedthe crochet hook carriage makes its rearward stroke. During the rearwardmovement of the shaft 41 the cam 'l5 is rotated but the shape of the camgroove 11 at the portion thereof then engaged by the follower 13 is acircular arc centered about the center of rotation of the cam, so thatthe cam imparts no motion to the rack bar B4. When the shaft 41 reachesits limit of rearward motion there is a period of dwell of the shaft 41before it commences its next forward motion, this period of dwell beingdetermined by the shape of the cam groove 45 at the portion 8| of thecam 44. During this short period of dwell in the reciprocating movementof the shaft 41 the continued rotation of the cam 16 imparts movement tothe rack bar 64 to move the rack 63 to turn the pinion 58 through anangle of approximately 180. The movement of the rack bar 64 ispreferably completed during the period of dwell while the cam follower46 is on the portion 8| of the cam 44, although this is notindispensable, since if the rotation is not completed during the periodof dwell it may continue during the subsequent longitudinal movement ofthe shaft 41. The shaft 41 then commences its forward movement. Duringthe forward movement of the shaft 41 the cam 16 is rotating, but thecurve of the cam surface engaged by the cam follower is a circular arccentered about the center of rotation of the cam. Hence no motion isimparted to the cam follower 13. When the shaft 41 again reaches itsfurthermost limit of travel and before it commences its rearward motionthere is again a period of dwell in the longitudinal motion of theshaft. During this period of dwell a cord is looped around the hook 6.The shaft then commences its rearward motion. During the forward andrearward motion of the shaft 41 the cam 11 does not actuate the follower18, hence there is no rotation of the crochet hook. When the crochethook again reaches its limit of rearward motion there is again a periodof dwell in the longitudinal movement during which period the cam 16actuates the follower 18 to rotate the crochet hook carriage through anangle equal to and opposite that of its former rotation. Upon completionof that rotation the forward motion of the shaft 41 again commences andcontinues until the crochet hook is again in the position illustrated inthe drawings. This completes two forward and two rearward strokes of thecrochet hook which is a complete cycle in the formation of a singlestitch. This cycle is repeated for each stitch.

It is to be noted that in the cycle of operations of the machine thereis one rearward stroke of i the crochet hook to withdraw the hook fromwithin the ring and there is one rearward stroke to withdraw the crochethook from beneath the ring. The former stroke is made longer than thelatter stroke, for a definite purpose. During the rearward stroke inwhich the crochet hook is withdrawn from within the ring the rearwardmovement must be of such length as to withdraw the crocheting hook fromwithin the loop or loops on the shank 5. This casts off the one or thetwo previously formed loops from the shank 5 of the crocheting hook butleaves a loop formed around the hook portion 6 of the needle. When theneedle is rotated 180 after casting off the loops previously formed onthe shank 5 and is then advanced below the ring I the shank 5 moves pastthe loop in the hook 6 so that the loop opens the latch 1 and then comesto rest on the shank 5. The next loop to be formed on the hook 6 is notto be drawn through the pre vious loop on the shank 5 and therefore uponrearward movement of the crocheting needle while it is below the ringthe crocheting needle stops short of the position where it would cast01T the previously formed loop on the shank 5.

Asa result, when the needle is then rotated up wardly and thereaftermoved forwardly the loop on the hook 6 is then positioned on the shank 5in addition to the loop previously on the shank.

In order to provide the difference in length of stroke on the tworearward strokes of the needle the cam groove d5 is not perfectlysymmetrical. The portion 3l of the cam groove that determines the extentof rearward movement of the crochet hook when the crochet hook is in itsupper position is further back than the portion 83- of the cam groove,which is spaced 180 from the portion 8| and which determines thedistance of retraction of the crochet hook when the crochet hook is inits inverted position. This difference in distance is quite small, ofthe order of @5a of an inch in one embodiment of the present invention.It is this last amount of rearward travel of the needle from theposition illustrated in Figure 6 which results in the casting off of theloops previously formed on the shank 5 of the crocheting needle.

To start the machine, the end of a cord to be crocheted is drawn fromits reel, extended through a constant tensioning device, not shown, tomaintain a proper tension on the cord, and is then threaded through thetube I6, with the end of the cord coming out through the open end of thetubular cord feeding member i2. The latch 96 is then moved to itsunlatching position whereupon the cover 93 immediately opens, under theaction of the springs 95. The operator then inserts a metallic ring I tobe sheathed, over the tube 92,- and then manually closes the cover Q3and latches it closed by means of the latch Qt. hook of the machine isat that time retracted from the position illustrated in Figure 6 and isin its inverted position so that the next movement of the crochet hookwill be a rotation of 180 to bring the crochet hook to its uppermostposition to be then followed by a forward movement of the crochet hook.With the crochet hook in the inverted position the operator loops theend of the thread around the hook as illustrated in Figure 1, holds theend i7 of the cord manually and then starts the operation of the mainoperating shaft 43. The operator allows only a very short length of thefree end l1 ofthe cord, which short length is subsequently concealed bythe crocheted loops formed by the machine. Upon completion of therequisite number of stitches, to complete the sheathing around the ring,the operator stops the machine, removes the ring, cuts off the end ofthe cord and knots it to prevent unraveling, all in a manner well knownin the art.

From the above description it is apparent that I have provided a machineof great simplicity. The crochet hook and the feeder are the only twomoving parts of the machine (including, of course, the mechanisms foractuating them) Oi' these parts the cord feeding member l2 has a simpleand continuous rotary motion and the crochet hook has alternate turningand reciprocating motions. The ring holder remains stationary throughoutthe entire operation of the machine. As each stitch is cast oii and thecrochet hook draws the cord forforr-nation of thenext stitch the tensionon the cord tightens thelast previously cast off stitch to apredetermined and fixed tension, and the pull upon the last cast olfstitch is suiilcient to cause the ring being' The crochet z completedstitch, by the tension of the cord itself, without the introduction ofany moving parts for accomplishing this result. The ordinaryreciprocating action of the crochet hook to draw the cord through thefeeder tube I2, as the crochet hook moves following the casting off ofthe previ'- ously formed loops, constitutes the motivating force forturning the ring.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have hereshown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention. It is,however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to theprecise construction here shown, the same being merely illustrative ofthe principles of the invention. What I consider new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine of the character described comprising means for supportingan element to be sheathed in the same plane throughout the sheathingthereof, a crocheting hook, mechanism cooperating with said hook tocrochet a cord about said element, means for driving said hook andmechanism, said hook and mechanism being so correlated that the hookcompletes its cycle in four strokes in the formation of one crochetstitch, and means for turning the hook about an axis parallel to butspaced from the longitudinal axis of the hook for shifting the path ofmovement of the hook from one side of the element to the other sidethereof for alternate strokes of the hook in the same direction.

2. A machine oi the character described cornprising means for supportingan element to be sheathed in the same plane throughout the sheathingthereof, a crocheting hook, mechanism cooperating with said hook tocrochet a cord about said element, means for driving said hook andmechanism, said hook and mechanism being so correlated that the hookcompletes its cycle in four strokes in the formation of one crochetstitch, alternate strokes of the hook in the same direction being of alength insuflicient to cast off a previously'formed loop on the hookwhereby a second loop is subsequently formed on the hook and theintervening alternate strokes in the same direction being of greaterlength and sufficient to withdraw the hook from the two accumulatedloops thereon to cast off said loops.

3. A machine of the character described comprising means for supportingan element to be sheathed, a crocheting hook, mechanism cooperating withysaid hook to crochet a cord about said element, means for driving saidhook andA mechanism, said hook and mechanism being so correlated thatthe hook completes its cycle in four strokes in the formation of onecrochet stitch, alternate strokes of the hook in the same directionbeing of av length insuiicient to cast oi a previously formed loop onthe hook whereby a second loop is subsequently formed on the hook andthe intervening alternate strokes in the same direction being of greaterlength and sufficient to withdraw the hook from the two accumulatedloops thereon, and means for turning the hook about an axisparallel tobut. spaced from the longitudinal axisof the' crocheting hook forshifting 'the path of movement of the hook from one side of the elementto the other side thereof for alterate strokes of thehook in the samedirection.

4. In a machine of the'character described, a.

first on one side and then on Vthe other side of that edge of theelement about which a sheath is to be crocheted while maintaining thepath of movement of the feeding end of the member always on the sameside of the element, means for reciprocating the hook, and means forshifting the path of reciprocation of the hook from one side to theother of that edge of the element about which a sheath is to becrocheted.

5. In a machine of the character described, a holder for a ring to besheathed, a crochet hook, a cord feeding member the cord feeding end ofwhich is adjacent a ring to be sheathed, means for reciprocating thecrochet hook and for shifting the path of reciprocation from one side ofthe core to the other side of the core on alternate strokes of the hookin the same direction, and means for moving the cord feeding end of themember always outside of the ring to bring the cord into both paths ofmovement of the hook in correlation to the movement of the hook vtocrochet a cord about the ring. y

6. In a machine for forminga sheath around a core, means for supportinga core, a crocheting hook, mechanism cooperating with said hook tocrochet a cord about said core, said mechanism including means forreciprocating the hook and including means for rotating the hook aboutan axis parallel to the direction of reciprocation of the hook to shiftthe path of reciprocation of the hook from one side of the core to theother side of the core for alternate reciprocations so that on one toand fro movement the hook passes on one side of the core and on thesucceeding to and fro movement the hook passes on the other side of thecore.

7. In a machine of the character described, a holder for a ring to besheathed, a crochet hook, a cord feeding member comprising a rotatablelooper the end of which is adjacent a ring to be sheathed, means forreciprocating the crochet hook and for shifting the path ofreciprocation from one side of the ring to the other side of the ring onalternate strokes of the crochet hook in the same direction, and meansfor rotating the looper to bring the cord thereof into the respectivepaths of movement of the hook in correlation to the movement of the hookto loop the cord around the hook.

8. In a machine for forming a sheath about a core, a rotatable looper, acrochet hook, means for reciprocating the hook towards and from thelooper, means for shifting the path of reciprocation of the crochethook, means for positioning a core to be sheathed between the two pathsof reciprocation of the crochet hook, and means for rotating the looperto bring the cord to be crocheted into the two paths of movement of thecrochet hook in correlation to the movement of the hook to crochet acord about the core.

9. In a machine for crocheting a sheath around a core, means forsupporting a core, a crocheting hook, mechanism cooperating with saidhook to crochet a cord about said core, said mechanism including meansfor reciprocating the hook, means for shifting the path of reciprocationof the hook from one side of the core to the other side of the core uponalternate reciprocations thereof, a rotatable looper adjacent theforemost position of the crocheting hook, and means for rotating thelooper to loop a cord around the crocheting hook each time thecrocheting hook is adjacent its foremost position.

10. In a machine for crocheting a sheath about a core, means forsupporting a core, a crocheting hook, means for reciprocating thecrocheting hook, and means for rotating the crocheting hook about anaxis substantially parallel to the direction of reciprocation thereofwith an interval of dwell between successive rotations which interval ofdwell is substantially greater than the interval of rotation andapproximately the same as the time of reciprocation of the hook.

ll. In a machine for crocheting a sheath about a core, means forsupporting a core,a crocheting hook, means for reciprocating thecrocheting hook with a period of dwell at the end of each direction oftravel of the crocheting hook, means for rotating the' hook about anaxis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hook during the period ofdwell at one end of the stroke of the crocheting hook, andmeans forlooping a cord around the' crocheting hook during thpe'rio'd of dwell atthe otherend vof the stroke of the crocheting hook. f 1

12. In a machine for crocheting a sheath aboutv a core, a crochetinghook, means for reciprocating the crocheting hook in a directionsubstan-y tially axially of the hook, and means for turning the crochethook about an axis substantial-- ly parallel tothe direction ofreciprocation. -f-

` 13. In a machine for crocheting a sheath about a core, a crochetinghook, means for rotating the crocheting hook about an axis substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the crocheting hook with a periodof dwell between successive rotaticns, the interval of dwell beingsubstantially greater than the interval of rotation, and means forreciprocating the crocheting hook during substantially the entire periodof dwell in the rotation of the crocheting hook.

14. In a machine for crocheting a sheath about a core, a crochetinghook, means for reciprocating the crocheting hook in a directionsubstantially axially of the hook with a period of dwell at the'end ofeach reciprocation in one direction, and means for shifting thecrocheting hook in one direction during alternate periods of dwell andreturning it from its shifted position during the intervening periods ofdwell whereby the crocheting hook has two paths of reciprocation, andmeans supporting a ring to be sheathed with the opening of the ringintersected by only one of those paths.

15. In a machine for crocheting a sheath about a ring, means forsupporting a ring to be sheathed, a reciprocating crocheting hook, meansfor reciprocating the hook through the ring, means for shifting the pathof reciprocation of the hook so that it passes to one side of the ring,and means for looping a cord onto the crocheting hook in correlationwith the reciprocation of the hook in each of its two paths to crochet acord into a sheath about the ring.

16. In a machine for crocheting a sheath about a ring, means forsupporting a ring to be sheathed, a reciprocating crocheting hook, meansfor reciprocating the crocheting hook through the ring on alternatestrokes of the crocheting hook in one direction, means for shifting thepath of reciprocation of the hook on the intervening alternate strokesin the same direction to cause the crocheting hook to pass to one sideof the ring on said intervening alternate strokes, and means for loopinga cord around the crochetin.r hook in correlation with the reciprocationthereof.

17. The method of crocheting a sheath about airing which comprisesreciprocating a latch type crocheting hook, shifting the path ofreciprocation kon alternate strokes vof the hook in the same direction,positioning a ring between the two paths of motion so that on .alternateforward strokes the hook passes through'therng and on the interveningalternate strokes the y.hook passes the ring on the outsidethereof,looping one continuous thread around the hook each time it passes thering, moving the previous loop on 'the crocheting hook past the vlatchupon the cornmencement of 4each forward stroke after the completion of aprevious rearward stroke, making alternate rearward strokes ofinsuicient length to retract the needle from the loop ypreviously leftpast the .latch so that upon vthe next for ward-movement a second loopisleft .on the crocheting hook past the latch, and making the interveningalternate rearwardstrokes of azgreater length and -sucient to draw thehook through both loops previously formed on the crocheting hook pastthe latch so that upon the subsequent forward'movement of the crochethook the loop on the hook is positioned past the latch for thenextstitch.

18. The method of crocheting a sheath about a core which comprisesvpassing a cord through a looper and continuously rotating the looper,reciprocating a crocheting hook through one forward and one rearwardreciprocation for yevery revolution of the looper and in a directiontowards and away from the rotating loc-per but in the path of movementof the cord from the looper, shifting the path of reciprocation of thecrocheting hook on alternate strokes'of the hook in the .same direction,and positioning a core to be sheathed between the two paths of motion ofthe crocheting hook.

19. The method of crochetlng r-a sheath about a core which comprisesreciprocating a crochet hook in `a direction substantially axially ofthe hook, rotating the hook about an axis substantially parallel Vto thelongitudinal axis of the hook so that alternate reciprocations of the.hook in thesame direction are in different paths, positioning a core tobe sheathed between the two paths .of motion, and looping a cord aroundthe crocheting hook in timed relation to the reciprocation thereof.

2.0. The method of crocheting a'sheatn about a core which comprisesreciprocating a crocheting hook, shifting the path of reciprocation vonalternate strokes of the hook in the same direction, positioning a coreto be sheathed between the two paths of motion, and rotating a 'looperto move a crocheting cord over the needle each time that the needle isadjacent its forward position.

PETER F. NARDULLI.

